If this measure is approved by a two-thirds vote,
County Service Area 13 would be authorized to increase
its existing special tax for paramedic services by up to
twenty-three dollars ($23), for a maximum of up to one
hundred-eight dollars ($108) per residential unit, and by
up to three cents (3¢), for a maximum of up to fourteen
cents (14¢) per square foot on non-residential structures,
and the County of Marin's appropriations limit would be
increased by an amount equal to the total proceeds of the
special tax.

s/PATRICK K. FAULKNER
County Counsel

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County Service Area 13 (Upper Lucas Valley Area) paramedic
tax is a dedicated local funding source for paramedic
services. It has been reauthorized by voters three
times in the last 12 years. Measure J is needed to maintain
rapid emergency response times and to make our paramedics
have the best equipment and best training to save
lives in case of an accident like a car crash, or a medical
emergency like heart attack or stroke.

Funds from Measure J are kept in a separate fund and
audited annually by the Board of Supervisors to ensure
they are only used for local emergency medical services
and equipment. These funds benefit local residents and
cannot be taken away by the State.

This measure will only cost households a maximum of an
additional two dollars a month, 7 cents a day. Businesses
will also pay their fair share. All the money paid for
Measure J is tax deductible. Because of this assessment no
resident served by a San Rafael Fire Paramedic will ever
receive a bill for the emergency medical service provided.
The Marinwood Fire Department responds to medical
emergencies in our neighborhood followed by San Rafael
paramedics. In an emergency every minute can be the difference
between life and death. Every day our paramedics
save lives that would be lost without the resources of Measure J. Measure J will help provide paramedics access to
the most advanced lifesaving training and equipment, such
as the mobile 12-lead heart monitor which aids in the
treatment of heart attack patients while they are being
transported to the emergency room.

Please join your neighbors and community and civic leaders
in support of Measure J.

It is with a degree of sadness that I urge a no vote on
Measure "J". This is a thinly veiled attempt to take over
the Marinwood Fire Dept. If this measure passes San
Rafael proposed to use Paramedic funds to finance this
takeover of Marinwood Fire Dept. For over 40 years CSA
#13 (upper Lucas Valley) has contracted with Marinwood
for Fire Protection. During this time I have not heard one
complaint about level of service or response time. The
same can be said for the City of San Rafael Paramedic service.

There is no reason for San Rafael to try and take over
Marinwood other than its refusal to pay its fair share of
costs for Marinwood to be first response to areas of North
San Rafael. If this measure does not pass, San Rafael will
get the message and another ballot measure without the
possibility of take over can proceed and paramedic service
can continue.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MARIN COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INCREASING
THE AMOUNT OF THE SPECIAL TAX
FOR PARAMEDIC SERVICES IN
COUNTY SERVICE AREA 13
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY
OF MARIN AND COUNTY SERVICE AREA 13
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION I. Authority, Purpose and Intent. This
ordinance is adopted pursuant to Article 3.5 of Chapter 1,
Part 1, Division 1, Title V (Sections 50075, et seq.) of the
California Government Code, and it is the purpose and
intent of this ordinance to impose a special tax on property
within this Area for purposes of funding paramedic services.
In 2006, voters approved a special tax up to the
amount of $85 per year for each dwelling unit and up to
the amount of 11 cents per square foot for each non residential
structure.

SECTION II. Upon enactment of this ordinance and
voter approval, as hereinafter provided, an increase in the
special tax for the purposes outlined in Section I hereof in
up to the amount of $23 for a total amount of $108.00 per
year for each living unit, and up to the amount of $0.03 for
a total of $0.14 per square foot for each non-residential
structure shall become effective.

SECTION III. Method of Collection. The special tax
imposed by this ordinance for the purposes outlined in
Section I is due from every person who owns a living unit
or non-residential structure within this Area as reflected
upon the rolls of the County Assessor at the same time ad
valorem tax is due and is to be collected in the same manner.

The Marin County Tax Collector shall collect the tax
and any penalty or interest due hereunder. The full amount
due under this ordinance shall constitute a debt to the
Area.

An action for the collection of any tax due hereunder
may be commenced in the name of the Area in any court
having jurisdiction of the cause.

SECTION IV. Delinquencies. To any amount of the
tax created by this ordinance which becomes delinquent,
the Marin County Tax Collector shall add a penalty in an
amount equal to any penalties owing for delinquencies in
the ad valorem property tax. The tax and penalty shall bear
interest at the same rate as the rate for unpaid ad valorem
property tax until paid.

SECTION V. Severance Clause. If any section of this
ordinance is held invalid or unenforceable by any court
and such judgment becomes final, then that section may be
amended by a majority vote of this Board to conform with
the judgment of such court, provided such amendment is
consistent with the purpose and intent of this ordinance.
If any section, subsection, sentence, phrase or clause of
this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion
of this ordinance. The people of County Service Area
13 hereby declare that they would have adopted this ordinance,
and each section, subsection, sentence, phrase or
clause thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more
sections, subsections, sentences, phrases or clauses may
be declared invalid.

SECTION VI. Effective Date. This ordinance shall
become effective not later than thirty (30) days after its
adoption by the Board of Supervisors, but shall not take
effect unless and until it is approved by two-thirds of the
voters voting upon this ordinance at an election to be held
on November 2, 2010.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the
Board of Supervisors of County Service Area 13, held on
the 27th day of July, 2010, by the following vote: